Allan Melvill’s Penmanship Book

Lot 662
14.09.2022 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 100
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 797301
Lot 662 | Allan Melvill’s Penmanship Book
Estimate value
$ 7 000 – 10 000
MELVILL, Allan (1782-1832) Autograph manuscript, inscribed ("Allan Melvills Book"), [Amherst, New Hampshire,] 20 July - 26 September 1796.

22 leaves, folio (323 x 205mm). (Later pages bear scattered foxing and dampstains, several leaves with losses and soiling). Marbled wrappers (dampstains and chips, backstrip chipped).

Allan Melvill's copybook, completed at age 14. Young Allan Melvill, future father of Herman, was a student first at West Boston Academy and then Staniford's Academy in Amherst, New Hampshire (Parker, 7). A similar copybook, completed three years before, is part of the Gansevoort-Lansing Collection at the New York Public Library. While the 1793 copybook features numerous maxims from Lord Chesterfield (Robertson-Lorant, 6), the present example includes quotes from George Shelley, Isaac Watts, William Saunders, John Trusler, and others. In his biography of Herman Melville, Hershel Parker deftly employs quotes from this copybook in several of his chapter headings. Beyond the instructive maxims, later pages concern more practical matters including sample drafts of various financial instruments which helped prepare Allan for his ill-fated business career.

Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
01.09.2022 – 14.09.2022
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Related terms